SUPERINTENDENT MIKE PORTEOUS

Superintendent Mike Porteous was born in Vancouver and raised in North Vancouver, where he graduated from Carson Graham Secondary School. After graduating from high school he obtained a bachelor of arts degree (Psychology Major) from the University of British Columbia.

Superintendent Porteous joined the VPD in 1984 and worked as a foot patrol (beat) constable in the Downtown Eastside until 1988. He then completed a three-year tour in the Strike Force, worked in District Three for a year and then returned to the Strike Force for another four years as a trainer and road supervisor.

He was next transferred to the Major Crime Section, where he worked for a brief time in the Robbery Squad, before being assigned to the Major Crime Section - Homicide Squad, where he worked as a detective constable in the Homicide Squad for seven years, until his promotion to sergeant in 2005.

He was working as a sergeant in District One when he was promoted to inspector. He served as the Crime Control officer and foot patrol (beat) coordinator in District One, where he was instrumental in coordinating a marked reduction in disorder and crime in that district.

While Inspector in charge of the Major Crime Section from 2008 until his promotion to the superintendent rank in 2011, Superintendent Porteous led a section which ultimately achieved record reductions in homicides in Vancouver, significant reduction in bank robberies, and some of the highest solve rates in recent memory for all sections under his command.

Superintendent Mike Porteous has been a guest lecturer, speaker and consultant at the Justice Institute of British Columbia and various police departments in Canada on subjects such as major crime investigation, major case management, undercover police investigations, tactical surveillance, wiretap, and informant/agent handling. He is an accredited Major Case Management Team Commander in British Columbia, and in this role has led various high profile and highly successful anti-gang and anti-corruption projects such as Projects Rebellion, E-Patroon, Evian, SisterWatch, and Rescue, which have collectively significantly reduced gang violence and violence against the vulnerable in the Lower Mainland. He sits on numerous police groups and panels, including the British Columbia Major Case Management Committee. Further, Superintendent Porteous is the Officer in Charge and Chair of the Executive of the British Columbia Municipal Undercover Program.

Superintendent Porteous is heavily involved in the local soccer community as the coach of a local Vancouver Metro men’s soccer team, the VPD men’s soccer team, and various select sides. He has received numerous commendations, the Lieutenant Governor’s Awards of Merit on two occasions, and is a former Police Officer of the Year (Vancouver Junior Board of Trade).

Superintendent Porteous was promoted to superintendent and took command of Patrol South in 2011. He is now in charge of Investigative Services in the Investigation Division.